Kumbhalgarh Birthplace of Maharana Pratap

The impregnable Kumbhalgarh Fort, sitting on a high mountain ridge looks like an impact from the past. Soaring above the encompassing rugged mountainscape, at 3,600 ft, the fort can been seen much before one arrives at its foot. With the second-longest wall up the planet , about 38 km long, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, referred to as the Mewar Fortress, it had been the birthplace of the good Rajput king, Maharana Pratap. Everything about the fort has been built to debar the enemy. 

From its high position within the Aravalli Hills and its strong ramparts to the four main gates of Aaret, Hanuman, Hulla and Ram Pol, and therefore the Badal Mahal, which was an excellent hindering force for the enemy, the fort was almost inaccessible. Moreover, the encompassing 13 mountain peaks and various watchtowers made it more of a challenge for the enemy. Historical records suggest that it had been just one occasion that the fort was besieged. Exploring the fort is an unforgettable experience. From its high vantage points, which give sweeping views of the Thar Desert, to its beautiful interiors and various sections just like the Badal Mahal and therefore the Kumbh Mahal, there's much to ascertain . There are as many as 360 Hindu and Jain temples inside the fort and devotees pays obeisance at them. Tourists also can catch the sunshine and sound show organised at the fort under the glittering stars. The fort was built by Rana Kumbha within the 15th century. it had been renovated by Maharana Fateh Singh within the 19th century. The Tourism Department of the government organises a three-day festival to pay a tribute to Rana Kumbha for this splendid architecture.

Situated at the very best point of Kumbhalgarh Fort is that the Badal Mahal, which was built by Rana Fateh Singh, the ruler of Mewar, within the 19th century. The two-storeyed palace is split into two distinct parts, namely the Zanana Mahal (for the royal ladies) and therefore the Mardana Mahal (for the royal males). The palace has some lovely wall paintings of the 19th century style and therefore the Zanana Mahal is adorned with lattice work or stone jalis from where the queens wont to watch the proceedings of the court and other important events.

The interiors are painted in pastel colours and one can get a view of the hillsides and deserts of Marwar from the palace. to succeed in the palace, one would need to climb up to the terrace through a narrow staircase.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is legendary for its 6-ft-high monolith shivling, which is formed out of one black kasoti stone. Residing within the complex of the Kumbhalgarh Fort, the temple was inbuilt 1458 and was renovated by Rana Sanga (a Rajput king within the 16th century), who was an excellent worshipper of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that Rana Sanga was so tall that when he sat to supply prayers, his eyes were on an equivalent level because the shivling.

 a stimulating feature about the temple is that the incontrovertible fact that it's entrances from all the four directions and houses a sanctum and an open-pillared mandapa. A pillar on the left of the temple bears inscriptions that tell about the renovations done by Rana Sanga.

One of the foremost popular attractions for tourists, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over a neighborhood of 578 sq km across the Aravalli range. The sanctuary is home to variety of species and is that the just one within the state of Rajasthan to trace wolves engaged in their activities. quite 40 wolves are believed to call the sanctuary their home. Other animals that one can sight here include leopards, Melursus ursinus , hyena, jackal, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha 

(the four-horned antelope), chinkara and hare. It also contains a spread of flora with variety of trees and medicinal plants. One can enjoy a safari within the sanctuary to urge a glimpse of wildlife within the natural habitat. The sanctuary also includes the Kumbhalgarh Fort, which may be a delight to go to .